Automatic cut-off for gas-lights.



W. C. OSWALT.

AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF FOR GAS LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

1,060,621 Patented May 6, 1913.

1 E g AT WILLIAM G. OSWALT, or PERCY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF '10 JOHN G. oswAL'r, or PERCY, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOB, GAS-LIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM C. OswAL'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Percy, in the county of Marion and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Automatic Cut-Off for Gas-Lights, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanism, whereby the flow of gas to a burner may be automatically cut off, whenever the light goes out.

A further object is to provide such a cutofi so constructed and arranged that it may be readily and easily attached to a gas pipe and installed with ordinary fixtures.

A further object is to provide such a cutoff which may be used in connection with an ordinary pilot light.

More particularly,-it is an object of my invention to provide simple and inexpensive mechanism whereby the cooling and contraction of metal closes a valve and thereby stops the flow of gas to a burner.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device,

. whereby the objects contemplated are at tained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a gas light equipped with an automatic cut-off embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a vertical, central, sectional view of the mechanism of my cut-oil. Fig. 3 shows'a horizontal, secti onal view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 show the expansible metal arm or plate in different positions of its movement. In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a gas supply pipe. It is my purpose as above outlined to provide an automatic cut-01f so constructed that it may be attached to an ordinary pipe and used with ordinary fixtures without modification of the latter. I provide a pipe 11 provided with screwthreads 12 at its upper end. The pipe 11 consists of a central, vertical portion A and is provided at each end with a horizontal portion B and a vertical'portion C. My object in making the pipe 11 in the form de scribed, will be seen from the following description. The interior of the lower portion C is provided with screw-threads 13. At the upper end of the lower portion C and below the lower horizontal portion B, is a partition 14 in which is a central opening. The partition 14, around the opening therein, forms a valve seat for a needle valve 15. In the upper side of the lower portion B, is a screwthreaded opening in which is inserted a screw cap 16, having an opening extending through it. The upper portion of the opening in the screw cap 16 is enlarged and in the enlarged opening is received a screw cap 17 which is provided with a central, vertical opening. The stem 18 of the valve 15 is slidably mounted in the screw caps 16 and 17. Between the screw caps 16 and 17, I place suitable packing material 19. Extending downwardly from the lower side of the upper portion B is a tube 20 in which the upper end of the stem 18 is slidably received.

Keyed to the stem 18, below the tube 20,

' is a collar 21. Mounted on the stem 18 and the tube 20 between the collar 21 and the upper portion B, is an expansible coil spring 22, whereby the valve 15 is yieldingly held in its closed position. Extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower portion C on opposite sides thereof, are arms 24 and 25. Pivoted to the arm 25 is an expansible and contract-ible metal plate 26 which extends horizontally to position adjacent to the lower end of the arm 24:. The arm 24 is preferably somewhat shorter than the arm 25. On the plate 26 is an outward extension 27. Slidably mounted on the ex tension 27 is a rod 28. Below the extension 27 on the rod 28, is formed a ring 29 or similar device and above said extension on said rod is secured a collar 30. The slidable movement of the rod 28 in relation to said extension 27 is limited by the ring 29 and the collar 27. Pivotally mounted on the tube 11, approximately on a level with the collar 21, when the latter is in its lower position, is a lever 31, one end of which is slidably mounted on the stem 18 just below the collar 21. On the lever 31 is an outward extension 32 to which the upper end of the rod 28- is pivoted. Secured to the ring 29 is a chain 33.

It will readily be seen that by pulling the rod 28 downwardly, the lever arm 31 will raise the collar 21 and the valve 15. I employ a coil spring 34 for yieldingly holding the extension 32 at the upper position of its movement. Pivoted to the lower end of the arm 24 is an arm 35 which extends upwardly and inwardly toward the collar 21. When the collar 21 is raised and the upper end of the arm 35 is at the inward position of its movement, the said upper end will rest beneath the collar 21 and hold the valve in its raised or open position. On the lower end of the arm 35 is a downward extension 36. Extending inwardly from the arm 35 is I a lug 37 of considerable weight. The lug 37 is designed to be of sufficient weight to draw the arm 35 inwardly to its position where its upper end is adjacent to the stem 18. In the 'extension 36 is a slot 37 in which the freeend of the plate 26 is slidably received. At its free end the plate 26 is bent downwardly, forming an extension 38 on the inner lower side of which is formed a shoulder 39. An ordinary gas burner 40 is designed to be mounted on the lower end of the tube 11 bymeans of a nipple 41.

In the practical operation of my improved automatic gas cut-off, the parts normally stand in position with the valve 15 seated and with the arm 35 adjacent to but not below the collar 21. When it is desired to light the burner, the user-pulls the chain 33 downwardly thereby unseating the valve 15 and permitting gas to flow to the burner. The gas may be lighted in any way. It will be understood that my device may be used with -a pilot light if desired. When the stem 18 and the collar" 21 are raised by the lever :arm 31, the upper end of the arm 35 drops into position below the collar 21, thereby holding the valve 15 in its open position. The downward pull on the rod 28 causes the collar 30 to engage the extension 27 thereby raising the free end of the plate 26. The extension 36 moves downwardly and the shoulder 39 rests upon and engages the extension 36, as shown in Fig. 5. The heat from the light expands the plate 26 andthe outerend thereof, including the extension 38 moves slightly outwardly until the shoulder 39 slides past the extension 36 and drops downwardly to position where the main portion of the plate 26 rests at the bottom of the slot 37, as shown in Fig. 4. When the light is turned off, the contraction of the plate 26 draws the extension 36 inwardly thereby moving the upper end of thearm 35 out of engagement with the collar 21 and permitting the spring 22 to force the valve 15 to its closed position. In this connection it may be noted that an ordinary valve may be used for controlling the flow of gas from the pipe 10, in which case my improved cut-off serves simply as a safety device.

Agreat many variations may be made in the details of construction of my device without departing from its essential features. The form shown is intended for use with a drop light but with a very slight modification could be used with almost any form of gas light.

The advantages of my improved automatic cut-off may be seen from the foregoing description. The whole of the mechanism may be applied to the ordinary gas pipe and fixtures as an independent attachment. The parts are of few and simple construction and are not likely to get out of order. They are not difficult to replace or repair. A single movement unseats the valve 15 and places the plate 26 in such position that its expansion will move the extension 38 to position for closing the valve 15 when the plate 26 is permitted to cool off. The value of such a device is especially valuable where slot machine meters are used or where, for any reason, the flow of gas through the pipe 10 is likely to be stopped at any other point than at the burner.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a gas carrying tube, a burner connected therewith, a partition in said tube provided with an opening, said partition forming a valve seat, avalve, yielding means for normally holding said valve in said seat, an expansion bar adjacent to said burner, means for holding said valve open, arranged to normally stand in inoperative position, means whereby said valve is opened and said bar moved to position for permitting said last named means to move to operative position for holding the valve open against said yielding means, said bar being so located and arranged that the contraction thereof moves the said first named means to inoperative position.

2. In a device of the class described, a

gas carrying tube, a valve seat formed therein, a valve, yielding means for normally holding said valve in its seated position, a burner connected wit-h said tube, an expansion bar adjacent to said burner, means whereby said valve may be held in its open position, and means whereby said last named means may be moved to operative position and at the same time moving said expansion bar into operative position with relation to said means for holding the valve open, said expansion bar being so arranged that the contraction thereof releases said means for holding said valve open.

3. In a device of the class described, a tube having an oflset central portion, a partition with an opening therein, near the lower end of said tube forming a valve seat, a needle valve extending to a point outside said tube, an expansible and contractible plate designed to be near a burner, yielding means for holding said valve in its seated position, a collar-on said stem, a pivoted lever arranged to drop of its own weight into position for holding said stem in position with the valve unseated when said stem and collar are raised, an extension on said lever said shoulder past said extension on said 10 provided with an opening in which said lever so that its contraction will move said plate is slidaloly mounted, a downward eX- lever out of engagement with said collar.

tension on said plate, provided with a shoul- Des Moines, Iowa, June 5, 1912.

der means for raising said stem and for raising said plate to position where said WILLIAM OSWALT' shoulder is in engagement with the ext'en- Witnesses:

sion on said lever, said plate being so ar- F. R. WARD,

ranged that the expansion thereof moves G120. OLSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

